Description

Titles read: "THE CRISIS".

Various locations of events.

Brief library shots of European statesmen meeting at Versailles in 1919. Diagrams of maps show how the boundaries of Europe were changed at this time. Brief shot of Adolf Hitler ranting. Press headline poster: 'Premier Flies To Hitler'. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at an airport makes a short speech to press before boarding his plane for Germany. He says European peace is what he is aiming at, and hopes that this journey may open the way to get it.

Montage of shots of several European locations as commentator talks of insults being hurled across the frontiers by radio stations. German building covered in Nazi swastikas and one large Union Jack flag. Union Jack and Swastika flags flying side by side. News headline poster: 'They Meet'. Chamberlain arrives at Godesberg on the Rhine, welcomed by crowd giving Nazi salute and is greeted by Hitler on the steps of the building. Several shots of German troops in training.

Montage of shots shows people / pressmen talking on telephones, switchboard operators taking calls, reporters receiving messages and working on copy as news breaks of Czechoslovakia mobilising. News poster: 'Premier Returns'. Chamberlain arrives back at airport. Outside his plane he makes a speech, saying that until he has reported the result of his mission to the British and French governments it is difficult for him to say anything about it. He says he trusts that all concerned will continue their efforts to solve the Czech problem peacefully "because on that turns the peace of Europe in our time". Brief shots of Chamberlain's car moving through London.
Note: this is not the famous 'Peace In Our Time' speech; see 38/79 for details. Short section of visuals missing from end of story - speech not affected; see separate record for complete visuals but no soundtrack (tape ID 981.50).

10 telling images selected from British Pathé's extensive WWI footage. 'The war to end all wars' was a war without parallel: over 70 million military personnel were involved and over 17 million people died.